New motoring laws for 2019

To help you out with all the motoring changes that are going to be hitting our roads we’ve created a quick guide for what to expect from 2019’s new motoring laws.

Fines for ignoring cyclist etiquette

The Highway Code already states that drivers have to leave a reasonable distance of 1.5 metres between their car and cyclists on the road.

From this March, motorists face being hit with a fine of up to £100 and three penalty points on their licence if they don’t leave enough space for cyclists.

Officials hope the new penalties will help lower the number of casualties caused by cars hitting cyclists on the roads.

Police officers will issue penalties to drivers who put cyclists at risk. In 2017, 18,321 cyclists were injured on the roads, and road safety campaigners hope the new rules reduce the number of ‘close passes’.

Motorway driving for learner drivers

At the moment, motorists aren’t allowed to drive on the motorway until they’ve passed their driving test.

But the government is now changing the rules to let learners experience motorway driving, as long as they’re supervised by an instructor in a car with dual controls.

This should help newer drivers become more confident when driving at higher speeds, which can be daunting at first.

According to an RAC road safety spokesman, the move will give “learners the option to gain valuable experience on our fastest and busiest roads [and] should further improve safety and enhance the confidence of new drivers.”

Fines for smart motorway violations

Smart motorways are increasingly common in the UK.

They’re designed to manage the flow of traffic on highways that are heavily congested or partially closed. However, they only work when drivers obey the red X signs on lanes that have been closed.

Drivers that don’t follow the signs could be fined up to £100 as a penalty for using the lanes they shouldn’t.

Though the government hasn’t officially announced the fines or what the penalty points punishment will be, they are expected to do so later this year, with the penalty expected to be three penalty points and a fine, using roadside cameras used to spot drivers violating the rules.

That means if you try and use a closed lane, whether accidentally or on purpose, you’ll be caught pretty quickly.

New MOT rules

2019 will see new defect categories introduced, which drivers will need to be aware of when getting an MOT. Defects will be listed under the categories of:

Pass – meets MOT standards

Advisory – defects could cause possible future issues

Minor – defects won’t affect the safety of the car, but the issue needs to be fixed as soon as possible

Major – defects could be dangerous for safety or the environment, and the car will not pass an MOT

Dangerous – defects are a definite risk for road safety or the environment, and the car will not pass an MOT

There will also be new checks that will be introduced as part of the MOT. These include those for:

Contaminated brake fluids

Underinflated tyres

Malfunctioning reversing lights

Malfunctioning brake pad warning lights

Missing brake pads or discs

Malfunctioning daytime running lights

Reversing lights will only be checked on cars produced after September 2009, while daytime running lights will be checked only on cars produced after March 2018.

Changes are also being considered for when vehicles need their first MOT, as under the current rule it’s three years, but this may be changed to four years.

After the first test, an MOT check is required every 12 months, so keep yourself on the right side of the law by making sure you don’t forget to book your car in when it’s due.

Graduated driving licences

In 2018, the government announced it will launch a pilot scheme for graduated driving licences in Northern Ireland.

Absolutely! The law should apply to all road users. My pet hate is cyclists who ignore traffic signals and take to the pavement to avoid them. Imagine doing that on a motorcycle, you’d get slaughtered! And so should they. Insurance or the lack of is my next big irritant, one rule for motorists and another for cyclists, total bullsh1t.

Cyclists are road users too but don’t need to be insured, taxed or their bikes MOT’d. Cyclists are also at fault for excessive speeds in built up areas, undertaking and also running red lights. The laws need changing to reflect the fact that it’s now a recognised form of transport and as such, such be taxed and maintained as other road users are. Road laws needs to reflect their usage, as they are getting more and more. Cycle groups require laws to reflect bunching and making it near on impossible at times to overtake. Yet again the responsibility is taken away from the cyclist and on to the motorists. All road users should abide by the same laws.

I agree I was pass on the inside by a cyclist he deep scratched my bmw and when I horned him he just put his hand up and went on riding who is liable I have to pay hundreds of pounds to get it fixed there should have to pay road tax and insurance too they are using the road just like all the cars and buses and trucks I’m livid

Also the amount of time cyclists think it’s ok to undertake you when traffics slow. They surely should be sticking to the Highway Code on all aspects of road users. Start registration on all cyclists and pay a small fee. Perhaps £50 per year to help identify the culprits so we can report their bad behaviour. They’re only too quick with head cams to report motorists.

How do they get away with it, if they are in the wrong they blame u, run them over and go to court and win 9 / 10 it’s their fault anyway, like all the others said on the pavement, jumping red lights com on. Enough said

Horses have more right on the roads than cyclists and all horse riders i know are courteous, unlike cyclists. How do you move a horse from one field to another if they can’t use roads. Anyway, think about it most of our roads are there because of horses. Roads were originally bridal ways and our roads in the UK still follow those bridal ways.

Motor drivers have to pay road tax which Is applicable . Part of that money goes for the upgrade and maintenance of the roads . Like signals lights . And lanes , cyclist use them too and mostly specially central London they have their own road and we get points for use them but it’s ok for them to cross lanes on roundabouts , and intercections without signaling and nothing gets done to them ,, plus they don’t contribute for any of cyclists road maintenance and contraction ;, who is paying for that ? “Motor drivers”

Since we appear to quote the Highway Code…why in my town do find parking on bends, hills, t junctions, kerbs (oft causing hazard to children in buggies and disabled having to go into traffic flow), double yellow lines etc etc

In some avenues you would never get a fire engine or ambulance down them to assist in emergency due to parking on BOTH sides of the road

Cyclists jumping red lights when the pedesrian lights are green.
All cyclists should have road insurance. Because if they cause the accident of a motorist who pays?
And they should all be made to wear hi viz as standard road safety.

Cyclists should have road insurance like horse and riders. Bikes ride 2 abreast and ride erratically i had one ride out infront of me crossing the road no warning nothing no lights or reflective clothing and had one literally lean against my car.. at traffic lights. They scratch your car and get away with it they frigging get away with murder.

About time they made this new law to make drivers aware of driving carefully and not taking on cyclists just because they hate them.
Cyclist reduce pollution, most drive carefully, if you added all the Looney drivers % v Looney cyclist, I think you will find the % is much more for Looney drivers.
Shall we get the pedestrians who cross roads badly to have a licence also?
Can’t wait for Autonomous cars they wont hate us.

this should include passing horses at a slow speed and wide. A little warning from cyclists they are coming up would be good too.
As a rider I have public liability insurance for my horse and myself….Can cyclists say the same?

I was waiting to turn right in my car and just before i moved (I was still stationary) a cyclist came down the hill on the road couldn’t stop hit my car causing damage, A ambulance was called and guess what I HAD to pay for that service even though it was not my fault.
It’s about time they paid insurance.

While I agree with all the points above regarding cyclists, let’s perhaps also mention that very few drivers use their indicators anymore, they don’t indicate when overtaking cyclists or any other hazard such as parked cars, also people increasingly overtake on blind bends, essentially are lazy, selfish and downright pig ignorant. Perhaps we could all drive with due care and consideration but people have become self – righteous, self obsessed, discourteous and rude. Rant over.

All Cyclists are bound by the same rules as the motorist, jump a red you get find, but cars have a reg number, cyclists don’t, I am a cyclist and I abide by the rules, If you voted for the Tories blame yourself for cuts to the police. Do you see any on the roads these days ? One solution is to get a camera and report them your self….. Simple

All those rules are available only for drivers. Cyclists are always favorised by the laws. When this government will implement rules and regulations for them, how they done with the drivers. Last week one lady cycle pass my 32t lorry trying to squiz between car parked and lorry she end up getting her cycle broken and her leg full of scratches. She was lucky she didn’t lost her life. Likely for me I have 6 cameras fitted on my lorry see her how try to pass on the small gap. They don’t have respect for any drivers put them on high risk when they do those stupid decisions.